Celta Vigo Archives

La Liga: Valverde strikes late as Real Madrid beat Celta Vigo

Federico Valverde’s heavily deflected 95th-minute drive snatched injury-hit Real Madrid a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo in La Liga on Friday.

The Uruguayan midfielder needed a stroke of fortune at the death to pull his team to within one point of leaders Barcelona, who visit Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Aurelien Tchouameni opened the scoring for Los Blancos early on, but Borja Iglesias soon pulled Celta level at their Balaidos stadium.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid, without injured striker Kylian Mbappe, had lost their previous two league games and are struggling to find consistent form.

Valverde’s shot, which flew into Celta’s net after bouncing off former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso, stopped his side from going three consecutive La Liga matches without a win.

“There’s a long way to go in La Liga, a lot of points left to play for… at this point it’s almost like La Liga has not started yet,” Arbeloa told reporters.

“Every game you’re playing against a team that has their own objectives, and each game will be a war.

“We came here with 10 players out, so I think our win deserves a lot of credit.”

As well as French superstar Mbappe, the team’s top goalscorer, Arbeloa was without several other players, including Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes and Eduardo Camavinga.

Despite the victory, Madrid’s form and their injury list does not inspire confidence ahead of next week’s Champions League last 16 clash against Manchester City.

Arbeloa started 18-year-old midfielder Thiago Pitarch for the first time, and he offered a decent display even as his team failed to impress.

Iglesias forced Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into a solid low save with a drive from the edge of the box in the opening exchanges.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Arbeloa’s side started well, and Vinicius Junior struck the post before Tchouameni put them ahead in the 11th minute.

The French midfielder produced a fine finish from the edge of the box as Madrid worked a corner to him, his strike hitting the upright on its way in.

Celta were not discouraged, though, and some poor defending from Trent Alexander-Arnold let them back in.

The England international allowed Williot Swedberg to get in behind him and then lacked the agility to block off the Swede, who cut the ball across for Iglesias to finish.

Courtois made a good save to keep Swedberg at bay before the break, as sixth-place Celta largely gave as good as they got.

Madrid appealed for a penalty when Ferran Jutgla handled the ball in the box, but a VAR review showed there was a push on a Celta defender just before and no spot kick was awarded.

Celta substitute Iago Aspas hit the post late on, and it seemed like his team were destined for a point as the clock ticked down.

However, in the final minute of stoppage time, Valverde’s effort from the edge of the box hit Alonso and left Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu wrong-footed.

“We hardly gave up any chances, and the shot at the end was well defended, so we’re a bit annoyed (to lose),” Iglesias told Movistar.

Arbeloa said he hoped Madrid’s determination to claim the three points could be a platform to build from going forward.

“I know we can do a lot of things better, but with the personality and character we showed today, I hope that this is a turning point and from here everything goes a lot better,” added Arbeloa.

READ: Pakistan edge Japan to qualify for Hockey World Cup after eight years

Nine-man Real Madrid stunned at Bernabeu by Celta Vigo

Real Madrid crashed to a damaging 2-0 home defeat at Bernabeu by Celta Vigo on Sunday in La Liga, finishing the game with nine men after red cards for Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras.

Williot Swedberg struck twice in the second half for Celta, with Madrid’s second league defeat of the season leaving rivals Barcelona four points clear at the top of La Liga.

Xabi Alonso’s side, second, also lost defender Eder Militao to injury on a difficult night in the Spanish capital, before they host Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Madrid were playing their first home match after six on the road across all competitions, following an NFL match at the Bernabeu, a poor run of form that has now seen them win just one of their last five league games.

With the juicy European battle against Erling Haaland’s City approaching, Alonso chose to rest centre-back Antonio Rudiger, starting with Carreras in the heart of defence.

Rudiger’s break did not last long, with the German defender coming on midway through the first half after Militao pulled up injured.

Raul Asencio started at right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold was sidelined for two months with a thigh injury, continuing a tough start to life in the Spanish capital for the former Liverpool defender.

Celta Vigo goalkeeper Ionut Radu made a handful of good saves in the first half, keeping out a Jude Bellingham header and Arda Guler’s drive from range.

Madrid were struggling to create serious danger as Celta set up in a tough-to-crack low defensive block, denying dangerous forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior space.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Guler missed Madrid’s best chance of the first half, with the Turkish playmaker sending a shot wide on the swivel after Mbappe teed him up.

Radu also thwarted Vinicius after Aurelien Tchouameni chopped a ball in behind the defence for the Brazilian to run onto, a rare crack in Celta’s armour.

Celta’s Romanian goalkeeper turned away a fierce Fede Valverde effort from distance early in the second half, before Celta stunned the hosts.

Bryan Zaragoza crossed from the left for Swedberg, who produced a gorgeous flicked finish to beat Thibaut Courtois to send the Galicians ahead.

Real Madrid were wounded, literally in the case of Bellingham, with blood running down his face from a cut sustained in a tussle with Celta target man Borja Iglesias.

Adding insult to injury, Fran Garcia earned two yellow cards in a minute, the second for a clumsy foul on Swedberg, leaving Los Blancos with 10 men for the final third of the match.

Mbappe sent a lob over Radu but down onto the roof of the net, and substitute Gonzalo Garcia headed just wide as Madrid searched for an equaliser, which did not come.

Carreras was dismissed in stoppage time as Madrid lost their heads, for dissent, as he protested a decision by referee Alejandro Quintero.

With Real Madrid down to nine and in disarray, Celta Vigo wrapped up their win as Swedberg rounded Courtois and ran the ball home.

READ: ‘Not a place for weak men’: Ben Stokes demands more from under-fire England

Robert Lewandowski hat-trick helps Barcelona punish Celta Vigo

Robert Lewandowski hit a hat-trick to help Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4-2 on Sunday in La Liga and cut Real Madrid’s lead down to three points.

The veteran Polish striker’s treble helped Hansi Flick’s side capitalise on Los Blancos’ 0-0 draw earlier on at Rayo Vallecano.

Teenager Lamine Yamal also scored for Barca in another gripping game produced by the champions’ attacking approach, and Marcus Rashford produced two more assists.

Frenkie de Jong was sent off late on for Barcelona for two yellow cards, but by then the champions had secured their victory to move second.

Lewandowski has had a stop-start start to the season due to injury, and Flick said his hat-trick would boost his confidence.

“After the injury, I can see a different Robert Lewandowski, he’s positive, he came back very early,” Flick told reporters. “For him, for his confidence, it’s great to score three goals today.”

Lewandowski said the game was “one of the craziest” of the season, but was happy with the result.

“Vigo is always difficult for us, but now we have fewer points (between us) and Real Madrid,” Lewandowski told Movistar.

Flick insisted Barcelona would not change their style, despite some recent struggles, including a 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, which led to a wild first half.

The champions nosed ahead through a Lewandowski penalty on 10 minutes after a handball, but Celta equalised a minute later.

Rashford missed a one-on-one chance and Celta broke away to score, with Sergio Carreira scampering behind Barca’s high defensive line.

Missing several injured stars, Flick had called on his team to show more fight in their absence, and they were more energised at Balaidos.

Looking back to his best, Lewandowski grabbed his second from an inviting Rashford cross to put Barca back in front on 37 minutes.

Celta quickly hit back again, this time through Borja Iglesias, who smashed home from the edge of the box.

However, Barcelona went in with the lead when Rashford’s deflected cross found teenage star Yamal, who beat Ionut Radu at his near post.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Both teams were more stable in the second half, with Barca dominating and Celta forced to sit back.

Lewandowski completed his hat-trick with a header from Rashford’s corner after 73 minutes to wrap up the win.

It was the striker’s seventh league goal of the season in just four starts, showing his finishing quality has not diminished at the age of 37.

“We have two weeks to disconnect now but I hope when we come back we play a lot better, it’s the perfect moment to change things that aren’t working,” said Lewandowski.

“Flick asked if I needed a rest and I said no… I felt very good physically today and I’m very happy.”

Earlier, Real Madrid were left frustrated in their goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, giving champions Barcelona a chance to close in on them.

Rayo battled strongly in the derby clash, and although Real Madrid had the better chances, the hosts also had opportunities to win a scrappy game.

They managed to limit La Liga top scorer Kylian Mbappe’s influence, while keeping Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham safely at arm’s length as well.

Madrid were hoping to bounce back from their Champions League defeat by Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday, but Alonso’s team dropped points for only the second time this season in the league.

“I want to keep growing, improving, with positive and constructive self-criticism — this is Real Madrid, we all know where we are and what we want,” coach Xabi Alonso told reporters.

“We’re in November, there’s a long way to go, we need to be demanding of ourselves (but) also be measured.”

Inigo Perez’s Rayo threatened first, when Andrei Ratiu fired straight at Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

After that, Madrid began to take control but the hosts, in mid-table, held firm.

Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made a fine instinctive save to push away a Vinicius effort and the hosts starved Madrid superstar Mbappe of the ball.

De Frutos and Alvaro Garcia came close for Rayo in the second half while Bellingham forced Batalla into another good save.

READ: Fourth New Zealand-West Indies T20I washed out

Kylian Mbappe maintains Real Madrid Liga dream in Celta thriller

Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Real Madrid held off Celta Vigo with a thrilling 3-2 win to stay within sight of La Liga leaders Barcelona.

After the Catalans scraped a comeback win at Valladolid on Saturday, Madrid survived a late Celta fightback to maintain the four-point gap ahead of next Sunday’s Clasico.

Defending champions Madrid, second, took a three-goal lead but were left clinging on at the Santiago Bernabeu against a Celta side seventh and hoping to qualify for European football next season.

Madrid’s Champions League defence crumbled and Los Blancos were also beaten in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona last week, but Los Blancos are still hopeful of overhauling Hansi Flick’s side in La Liga.

“We had a very good first half (but)… we fell apart, these things can’t happen, it’s happened to us a lot,” admitted Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde on the club’s television channel.

“We left a lot minutes for them to get comfortable and they are a great team and they put us in a tough spot.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s side came into the game with a spate of defensive injuries but after riding out an early wave of Celta chances took control, with Turkish 20-year-old Arda Guler pulling the strings.

With Rodrygo Goes out with illness the youngster started in his stead and took full advantage.

Guler directed a spectacular overhead effort wide of goal in the opening stages, showing his ambition has no limits.

Former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso headed just over and then forced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois, as Celta threatened.

Aurelien Tchouameni headed over when well-placed at the other end, as Madrid stifled the visitors.

Madrid opened the scoring through Guler after 33 minutes, when the playmaker cleverly worked some space in the box and then brilliantly curled a strike past the reach of Vicente Guaita.

Kylian Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead after 39 minutes at the sharp end of a rapid breakaway.

Courtois saved well from Borja Iglesias and immediately Madrid thrust forward, with Bellingham setting Mbappe free down the right.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The French superstar ruthlessly lashed past Guaita from just inside the area.

Just three minutes into the second half, Mbappe struck again for his 24th league goal of the season, putting him one behind the top scorer, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.

Guler was the creator, playing in the striker with a perfectly-weighted ball and Mbappe finished low with a stroke of his left boot.

It seemed the game was won for Madrid but Javier Rodriguez pulled Celta back into it with a finish from close range after a corner was wrongly awarded to Celta.

Lucas Vazquez blocked Pablo Duran’s backheeled effort on the line but Rodriguez was on hand to pounce.

Iago Aspas’ introduction off the bench for the Galicians immediately gave them more attacking impetus and he produced a superb pass for Williot Swedberg to slot a second past Courtois.

The Belgian goalkeeper had his heart in his mouth a few minutes later as Duran’s shot slipped out of his hands and could have squirmed across the line behind him if it had not slowed to a stop on the grass.

If Madrid had dropped points it would have allowed Barcelona to lift the title next weekend with a Clasico victory.

“It’s the game of the year for us, the last chance for us to win La Liga,” said Valverde.

“We will try our best to take the three points.”

READ: New T20I captain named as Bangladesh announce squad for UAE, Pakistan tour

Barcelona need plan B as Lamine Yamal to miss Celta Vigo clash

Leaders Barcelona have lost two matches this season in La Liga, both without teenage starlet Lamine Yamal starting, and the winger will also be missing for Saturday’s match at Celta Vigo.

Hansi Flick’s side have struggled when the 17-year-old is not on the pitch, as the Spain international has become a crucial part of their attacking gameplan.

With Yamal set to miss the trip to Galicia because of an ankle problem, the German coach needs a plan B.

The teenager was rested for Barcelona’s visit to face Osasuna in September, with the Catalans losing 4-2.

Appearing as a substitute with Barcelona trailing, Yamal scored a superb late goal to remind Flick of his importance to the team.

Since then, he started every match for Barcelona until injury kept him out of the team that lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad before the international break.

Flick put Raphinha on the left wing and used Fermin Lopez out of position on the right and his team failed to create many chances in San Sebastian, despite having scored 40 goals in the 12 league games preceding.

“Of course, a player with the quality Lamine has, every team (would) miss it,” admitted Flick after the defeat. “In the last third, we weren’t making the right decisions.”

With Dani Olmo seemingly fit again after injury, the playmaker can add more quality in the final third for Barcelona and supply striker Robert Lewandowski with the ammunition he needs to thrive.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The veteran Polish forward is the league’s top goalscorer with 14 strikes but also failed to find the net in the games where Yamal did not start.

With the youngster’s skill and speed attracting opposition defenders and his creativity crucial in teeing up Lewandowski, their connection has been vital to Barcelona’s campaign.

Lamine Yamal is also a fine foil for Raphinha when Barcelona counter-attack at pace, with the Brazilian winger, in the form of his career, often racing onto clever passes played by the Spaniard to devastating effect.

With Ferran Torres also out injured, Flick could turn to winger Pau Victor to replace Yamal or use Pablo Torre in attacking midfield with Olmo shifted to the left wing and Raphinha on the right.

Claudio Giraldez’s Celta Vigo, 11th, boast former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso in their ranks.

“It’s special because we play against the leaders,” said Alonso. “We have shown in previous games against big sides we can compete, but we haven’t managed to take a good result.”

Celta Vigo came close to upsetting Real Madrid but were beaten 2-1 by the Spanish champions in October.

Barcelona have only won twice in their last nine visits to Balaidos. A win for Barcelona could take them nine points clear of Madrid before they visit Leganes on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid, third, host Alaves, while Valencia host Real Betis in their first match since devastating floods hit the region causing loss of life and severe damage on the east coast.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed joins ICC Champions Trophy tour in Karachi

La Liga: Real Madrid sink Celta Vigo to extend their lead on top

MADRID: Real Madrid sunk Celta Vigo 4-0 to extend their lead at the top of the standings in the ongoing La Liga 2023-24 at Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.

Real Madrid is currently seven points ahead of second-placed Girona while defending La Liga champions Barcelona sitting in third position with a difference of meagre one point.

The home team drew first blood in the 21st minute with star winger Vinícius Júnior hitting the goal from very close range following a corner.

Watch La Liga 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

Celta Vigo managed to deny further attempts by Real Madrid to extend their lead before they shot in their own feet in the 79th minute.

Celta Vigo goalkeeper, Vincente Guaita, almost saved Rudiger’s header after a corner, but it rattled the crossbar and bounced back down for an own goal.

Their trouble did not end there as nine minutes later a mix-up between Guaita and Carlos Dominguez resulted in another own goal.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

With Real Madrid cruising to a 3-0 victory in stoppage time, 19-year-old Arda Guler showed his onfield prowess to score his first goal for the home team.

“I’m very happy to be at Real Madrid. It’s the best club in the world and, although it’s difficult, I believe I have the quality and character to overcome it,” Guler said after the match.

Meanwhile, in other matches in La Liga, Athletic Club registered a 2-0 victory over Las Palmas, while, Villarreal edged Real Betis 3-2.

READ: Naseem Shah charged for code of conduct violation during United-Sultans clash

La Liga: Barcelona makes a late comeback to sink Celta Vigo

BARCELONA: Home side Barcelona on Saturday turned the tables tremendously in the last ten minutes to win 3-2 against Celta Vigo after being 2-0 down at the 80-minute mark in the ongoing La Liga season at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

The Catalan stepped into their temporary home at Montjuic with four consecutive victories in La Liga, however, the visitors started the game on high as American midfielder Luca de la Torre set up Jorgen Strand Larsen, who picked up the ball and placed a composed finish past Marc Andre ter Stegen to make it 1-0 in the 19^th minute.

Barcelona looked to score an equalizer in the 38th minute, courtesy of Marcos Alonso’s header from the centre of the box but was saved in the bottom left corner by the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong got injured, adding to Barcelona’s miseries in the first half.

Celta Vigo then extended their lead to 2-0 as Tasos Douvikas scored off a left-footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.

However, what followed was one of the greatest comebacks in football history as star striker Robert Lewandowski scored two goals in just four minutes to overturn the two-goal deficit at the 85-minute mark.

Watch LA LIGA 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

João Cancelo then scored the match-winner for Barcelona as he picked up on Gavi’s cross from a central position to lead his side to the fifth consecutive victory in the ongoing La Liga season and rocketed them to the top spot in the points table.

In another La Liga fixture, Almeria settled for a 2-2 stalemate against Valencia at Power Horse Stadium and sunk to the bottom of the points table without a single win in the ongoing La Liga season.

Diego López drew first blood as he scored off an assist by Javi Guerra to give Valencia the lead, which remained intact until the first half.

Sergio Arribas, however, scored an equalizer nine minutes into the second half, before Javi Guerra once again put the visitors ahead.

The lead lasted only six minutes as Arribas scored another equalizer for Almeria to draw the game.

READ: Babar Azam can set the World Cup on fire: Gautam Gambhir

La Liga: Celta Vigo edge Almeria as Cadiz prevail over Villarreal

Celta Vigo registered their first victory in the ongoing La Liga season as they edged past Almeria in a five-goal thriller, meanwhile, Cadiz handed Villarreal their second consecutive loss in the season.

Celta Vigo and Almeria, both entered Almeria’s home ground Power Horse Stadium, looking for their first win in the 2023-24 La Liga season as they both drew one and lost two of their previous three games.

However, the visitors gained an early advantage in the 24th minute as Unai Núñez scored off a header from very close range to the bottom left corner.

Jørgen Strand Larsen scored another goal within ten minutes to extend Celta’s lead to 2-0.

Almeria’s Largie Ramazani missed an attempt minutes before the first half, however, Sergio Akieme scored one for the home side just eight minutes into the second half.

Click to watch La Liga 2023-24 Live on ARY ZAP

Sergio Arribas then scored an equalizer in the 68th minute, thanks to Largie Ramazani’s assist.

But the visitors finally scored a late goal to finish the match at 3-2. Williot Swedberg was assisted by Manu Sánchez with a cross to score the match-winning header from very close range to the centre of the goal.

In another game, Cadiz playing at their home ground Nuevo Mirandilla dominated Villarreal after the visitors started the game on high with an early goal in the tenth minute, courtesy of Alexander Sørloth.

However, this proved to be the only success they found throughout the game as the home side made a sounding comeback and won the game 3-1.

Chris Ramos scored the equalizer in the 18th minute but was shown a yellow card for excessive celebration. Four minutes later, Alfonso Pedraza of Villarreal was sent out with a red card for violent conduct.

Cadiz was awarded a penalty in the 30th minute which Darwin Machís successfully converted to get his team the lead over the visitors. He scored another one, right after the first half to further extend his team’s lead to close the match at 3-1.

READ: Pakistan, India to lock horns after four years as rain looms

Aspas’ double puts Celta Vigo 3-0 up over Cadiz in La Liga

VIGO: Iago Aspas shone with a powerful brace as Celta Vigo swept Cadiz to secure its second consecutive win in La Liga in the opening game of matchday four of the season.

The home side made a promising start but failed to take a lead before halftime with winger Oscar Rodriguez missing an opportunity.

Aspas then opened the scoring in the 56th minute with a powerful shot from outside the box which landed in the nets beating the Cadiz goalkeeper Ledesma.

The breakthrough opened the floodgates for Celta in the latter stages of the game as Rodriguez doubled the lead just after six minutes.

Aspas then unleashed another strong hit from outside the box to make it 3-0 for Celta in the 75th minute.

Celta will now travel to Madrid for an away game against Atletico next weekend while Cadiz will play Barcelona in a home game in Andalucia.

READ: Zimbabwe stun Australia in historic third ODI win

Celta Vigo claim first win of the season, Real Betis maintain perfect run

SPAIN: Celta Vigo have clinched their first triumph of the ongoing La Liga 2022-23 season as skipper Iago Aspas struck and powered the side to an away victory at Girona, while Real Betis thumped Osasuna 1-0 to maintain their unbeaten run.

The two sides went hard at each other in the first half and apparently got a chance to secure the breakthrough but failed to make it count.

Celta Vigo skipper Aspas then made no mistake and took just a few minutes and arrowed home to hand his side a much-needed lead that lasted till the final whistle.

The rest of the match followed a tense battle between the two teams and a series of substitutions but it all went in vain as the scoreboard remained intact at 1-0 despite the extra time.

In another match, however, Real Betis carried their domination over Osasuna and enhanced their unbeaten run over the latter to nine matches with a home 1-0 victory on Friday.

Betis are currently undefeated after three games in the ongoing La Liga season and lead the standings by nine points, followed by Villarreal and Real Madrid, who each have six points, and are in second and third place, respectively.

The visiting side posed the majority of scoring threats in the early stages of the game before Los Verdiblancos star Borja Iglesias struck in the 34th minute to put Betis in front.

Betis sought to build on their lead in the second half, but German Pezzella’s late red card thwarted their chances and had to settle for a 1-0 victory over Osasuna.

READ: ‘He too is our match winner’ Shadab backs Hasan ahead of Asia Cup